Team preview: Pleasantville

Quick trivia question: Who was the last team to win a Division 2 section title before Nanuet went on its run? If you guessed Pleasantville, you are correct. The Panthers have fallen off a bit since winning a championship in 2009-10, placing 11th in the section last season. They return a few wrestlers with some upside, but a lack of experience should be prevalent throughout much of the lineup. Coach Bob Bernaducci’s group will be very young, as he continues to try and build the program back up.

Here are Bernaducci’s words:

How did your team do last season? Pleasantville had a 12-9 dual meet record. Five wrestlers placed at sectionals last year and three are returning.

Who are the top wrestlers that you lost to graduation? Obum Anyichie (section champ; 30-2); Graham Williamson (sectional runner-up; 29-8).

What is the biggest strength of your lineup? Biggest strength the of lineup should be my lightweights.

What is your biggest concern entering the season? My biggest concern entering the season is a lack of depth in my lineup, particularly in the heavier weights. We will also be a very young and inexperienced team with only two seniors and two juniors in the lineup.

Which team(s) is your biggest rival? Westlake.

Will you host any tournaments this season? We will be hosting an outbracket round of the Section One Dual Meet Tournament on Dec. 4.

One should add that Alex beat the eventual state 2 years in a row without himself placing at states, but then R2 aleady knows that.
By the way why are we bringing up an O’Town kid on the P’Ville thread?

Jasper it wasn’t a knock I’m sure. Well pretty sure. Chief is friendly with the pville program despite them being league foes of his little Indians. It was a compliment to a ‘team’ championship if I had to guess. Often, especially in D1. It’s the team that can get 4 or so champs that wins. Pville won it with a team effort. Who knows maybe in a year or two that can be pville again

Jasper, don’t get your singlet all in a knot. What did Vince’s quick trivia question have to do with this year’s Pleasantville team? Why are you not calling Vince out?
I brought up the point because it is a historical fact and is worthy of being mentioned.
The achievement is significant because that was the only time it has happened in 57 years. Like it or not that team will always be remembered for it. It is not a bad thing, just a fact. Wrestling is both a team sport and an individual sport. Many, many teams year in and year out have 4, 5 or 6 kids in the finals and have 2, 3 or more champions but those teams often could not crack the top 5 in the team standings. Yes they had great individual wrestlers but were not strong as a team. Pleasantville’s title that year showed what a true team effort can do. Additionally, they not only won the title but did it going away scoring I think about 250+ total team points.
Note that no one found fault with R2’s comments about De La Cruz because the statement was factual and significant.
JASPER I was not being negative, you are just the type of person that always sees his glass half empty. Probably some disgruntled helicopter parent, just make sure that Little Jasper can make weight.
AND THEN THE FIGHT STARTED.
R2_D2 best of luck this season.